Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 06, 2003 08:09pm | #1

   Arrrgggh, messed this post up sorry. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   
   

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   Edited 11/6/2003 12:11:24 PM ET by forestgirl

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 06, 2003 08:12pm | #2

   Whatever you and she end up doing, be sure she has lots of scraps to practice on before tackling the chairs themselves. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   YesMaam27577 | Nov 06, 2003 10:54pm | #3

   FG hit it on the head -- lotsa scraps to practice on.

   And you should probably suggest a wipe-on finish. Your idea of an oil-wax blend is good. So would a Maloof-style oil-varnish blend. The wipe-on's need a lot less attention between coats, IMO. And that is probably a good thing for a newbie.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 07, 2003 02:02am | #4

   Based on another thread I saw him post in, I think he's talking about an oil finish with a final coat of wax.  What hasn't been mentioned is whether he wants to stain or not.  I'm breaking out in a cold sweat thinking about someone doing their very first finishing process on a pair of Morris chairs made by someone else!  It's sooooo easy to mess things up.  Oh well.

   A good finishing book (Flexner, Jewitt) would help but possibly overwhelm.  I guess if I were in his place, I'd go for a wetsanding application of the Watco stain of choice, followed by wax.  I guess inbetween, it would be possible to do an oil/varnish application. 

   My brain is not working today.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   adrienne4468 | Nov 07, 2003 05:21pm | #8

   I am also breaking out in a cold sweat. The few places I did have help with the chairs I had to fix alot and replace some peices that were too short. I tried cutting them again and found they were still too short so I made new. I really like the idea of fuming them and did some reading on that. The chairs could be finished naturally with no stain. The wood already is brown, darker than most white oak. This was a very old tree that this came out of and both chairs are made of the same tree. One post said now wax on chairs and was wondering if that could be explained.

   Expecting God's Best,

   Tony

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 07, 2003 07:26pm | #9

   Wax on chairs:  Well, have to admit I didn't think that one through.  Wax would make them slippery (wheeeee!) but more importantly, it would probably pick up dust and dirt. Not a good combination.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   Gretchen | Nov 07, 2003 08:43pm | #10

   Wax on chairs will come off on whoever sits on them.  It is just not a suitable finish for hard use.Gretchen

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 08, 2003 04:10am | #11

   My buns haven't been hard for a very long time, ROFL!!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   Gretchen | Nov 08, 2003 03:15pm | #12

   No, maybe not  but they are warm.Gretchen

4. 
   Alan | Nov 07, 2003 02:03am | #5

   Tony,

   You could also "go original" and fume them with ammonia.  I actually did that a little while ago, and it was much easier than I thought it was going to be.  Then all you and/or she would need to worry about would be the top coat--and that could be shellac.  Shellac is very forgiving, and it's easy to fix any mistakes.

   Alan

5. 
   Paul_Snyder | Nov 07, 2003 03:01am | #6

   I think a slow drying wipe-on finish is the simplest solution. But I wouldn't use an oil or oil/wax blend on a chair. Instead, a wipe-on varnish will not only be easy to apply, but will provide a durable finish that will last a long time.

   There are a number of brands available (here's a typical list - Wiping Finishes) that will do a good job. I'll recommend the Waterlox original varnish; it looks very nice and will wear well on the chairs.

   Paul

1. 
   Gretchen | Nov 07, 2003 03:28pm | #7

   I agree with Paul--no wax on a chair and especially not over an oil.  You want your finish to be sealed and hard if you are going to sit on it.  A wipe on varnish will be easy and durable.  If a stain is needed it will be sealed in the final finish coats.Gretchen